Device for tying mail-packages



(No Model.)

' O. A. BURR & H. P. EWELL.

DEVIGE FOR TYING MAIL PACKAGES.

No. 561,256. Patented June 2, 1896.

WHWESSES VENTOQZ' s.-

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES A. BURR AND HERBERT P. EW ELL, OF ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,256, dated June 2, 1896.

Application filed. February 19, 1896. Serial No. 579,852. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern."

Beit known that we, CHARLES A. Bonn and HERBERT P. EwELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Oakland, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Tying Mail-Packages; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a device for tying packages of mail, and is especially designed for securing packages of letters in transit; and it consists in a certain construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device in which the arrangement is such as to enable the operator to quickly tie and secure a package of letters in such manner as to firmly retain them in the package and to enable them to be readily untied when desired, obviating the necessity of cutting the string which confines the package and enabling the same string to be used many times, thereby effecting a great saving in the cost of string and providing for more quickly and securely retaining the package of letters, which object is obtained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a package of letters secured by our improved device. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the string-retaining button in horizontal section and by stippled lines the position of the string when secured or tied. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a like section on line 4 i of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective of the button detached from the base-plate.

Referring to the letters of reference, A designates a circular plate, preferably of thin metal, which is slightly concavo-convex to cause the edges thereof to lie closely to the surface of the package. Attached in an aperture a, near the edge of said plate, is a cord 13 of suitable quality and of such length as to pass around the package of letters to retain them in place.

7 Mounted upon the plate A, at or near the geometric center thereof, is a button 0, having a stem 19, provided with an extended pin or rivet c, which passes through an aperture in said plate A and is riveted therein,as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, to secure the button to said plate. Formed in the end of the stem of said button, on opposite sides of the pin 0, are two grooves e, in which the ends of the looped spring D are secured. The ends of said spring extend parallel for some distance, but at d are provided with a return-bend, from whence they extend forward on each side of the button and unite at the looped point f, which is bent slightly upward to enable the cord to be more readily drawn therethrough. This form of spring affords great strength and resiliency and provides a greater length of action, as the bearing, when the point of the spring is raised, is brought at the bends d,which causes the spring to stand at a less angle when the cord is drawn thereunder and obviates the raising of the point f thereof too high.

In the employment of this improved device the plateA is placed upon the package of letters to be tied and the cord B first passed around said package endwise, thence partly around the button and transversely around the package, when the cord is passed once around the button and drawn under the looped end f of the spring D, as clearly shown by solid and stipple lines in Fig. 2, thus firmly securing the string around the package and in such manner as to enable it to be readily removed therefrom by simply withdrawing the free end of the cord from under the spring D and unwinding it from the button, as will be readily understood.

By means of this improved device a package of letters may be more quickly and firmly tied than in the ordinary practice, enabling, as well, the package to be readily untied without cutting the cord, which may be used many times, thereby effecting a great saving in the cost thereof.

This device also enables a package of a few letters to be more easily and perfectly tied, as the area of the plate A bearing upon the package tends to stiffen it, enabling the string to be more readily passed around said package.

In practice, to enable the plate to be readily retained in place while passing the string around the package of letters, the operator may place his thumb over the aperture E in said plate, which aperture is also adapted to receive a pin upon which said plates may be strung when not in use.

\Vhile we have shown and described this improved device as serving to tie packages of mail, we do not wish to be limited to this use of it alone, as it is evident that it may be used for tying any and all packages that are secured by a confining cord or string.

Having thus fully set forth our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In the device for the purpose set forth, the combination of the plate,tl1e button thereon, the cord attached at one end to the margin of said plate and adapted to be passed around said button the looped spring secured at the base of said button and extending on opposite sides thereof havin g a projecting end under which the cord may be drawn.

2. In a device for tying packages of mail, the combination of the base-plate, a button having a flaring head secured centrally to said plate, the cord attached at one end to said plate and adapted to be passed under the head of said button, the looped spring having its ends secured in the stem of said button and extending rearwardly therefrom thence by return-bends passing forward on each side of said button and uniting in the loop f, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. jB'UltR. HERBERT l. l. 1\\"'l lljL. Witnesses:

Amen Rnmmn, J'osEPi-I REIMER. 

